Byron Roll

Byron Herbert “Barney” Roll, 74, of Bellefontaine, passed away Sunday, December 11, 2011 at The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. He was born May 3, 1937, in Brown Township, Darke County, Ohio, a son of the late Herbert Ellsworth and Sarah Esther (Martin) Roll. He attended school in Ansonia, Ohio. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Nevin and Gerald M. Roll, and a sister, Roberta Davis.

Barney is survived by his wife, Darlene Ann (Kramer) Roll, whom he married June 18, 1998, at Camp Bethany Brethren Church Camp near Nashville, in Holmes County, Ohio. He is also survived by daughters, Janie L. (Denny) Overley of Celina, Ohio and Kay A. Roll of Knoxville, Tennessee; sons, John H. (Chan Stroman) Roll of Madison, Wisconsin, and David B. (Melissa) Roll of Leipsic, Ohio. In addition, he is survived by grandchildren, Jessamyn, James and Veronica Roll, all of Madison, Wisconson, and Katie and Sarah Overley of Celina, Ohio; a sister, Carolyn Brandon of Celina, Ohio; a brother, Dwight (Barbara) Roll of Punta Gorda, Florida; a sister-in-law, Dola Roll of Greenville, Ohio; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dan (Vicki) Kramer, of Delphos, Ohio and numerous nieces and nephews.

He retired from Century Link (formerly United Telephone Company of Ohio and associated companies), where he worked for more than thirty seven years. He was a member of the Stony Creek Church of the Brethren near DeGraff, Ohio, Lions Clubs International, Ohio Lions District 13-E, Waynesfield Lions Club, Lions International Pin Trading Club, Ohio Lions Pin Traders Club, Fellowship of Brethren Genealogists, National Association of Milk Bottle Collectors, Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association, Greenville Elks Lodge and was a former member of the Versailles Lions Club and the West Liberty Lions Club. He served in the Ohio National Guard, was a former member of the Rossburg, Ohio Volunteer Fire Department and served a term as the Rossburg Village Mayor.

Barney enjoyed traveling with his wife and other family members or friends. He visited all fifty states and some foreign countries. He played Santa Claus at various events in the northern Darke County, Ohio area for many years. Barney had a sense of family roots and liked to dig into family histories. He also enjoyed military history, particularly the Civil War and World War II eras. He was known for his wealth of information about Brethren history and gave classes on Brethren history at Brethren churches in the Logan County, Ohio area. He was currently serving on the Fellowship Committee at the Stony Creek Church of the Brethren. From 2000-2001, Barney served as the Ohio Lions District 13-E District Governor and had previously served at the club and zone levels as well. He also served on the Ohio Lions Sight & Hearing/Pilot Dogs Committee for several years and was currently serving as District 13-E Pin Chairman and Recycled Eyeglass Collection Chairman. Barney was proud to report that he had delivered more than 250,000 pairs of recycled eyeglasses to Lions International Eyeglass Recycling in Indiana in the past few years. Barney enjoyed Lions “pin swaps” and attended several around the eastern United States each year. In addition, he was an avid milk bottle collector. He liked to hunt, fish and trap and had a particular fondness for trapping snapping turtles, mostly at Fletcher Pond in Michigan, where he trapped nearly 2,000 pounds of turtles. On Friday evenings during high school football season, Barney and his wife would travel the western portion of the state, supporting MAC high school football teams in what was affectionately called “The Roll Family Game of the Week”. In recent years, he received the most pleasure from being with family and friends and took particular delight in his grandchildren’s activities.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, December 17, 2011 at the Greenville Church of the Brethren 421 Central Ave. in Greenville, Ohio with Pastor Wayne Downing and Pastor Lynn Mercer officiating. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in the Abbottsville Cemetery.

Calling hours are Friday, December 16, 2011 from 2 to 4 P.M. and 6 to 8 P.M. at the Eichholtz Funeral Home 321 N. Main St. in Bellefontaine, Ohio.

The family requests that memorial contributions be given to the Stony Creek Church of the Brethren or Ohio Lions Sight & Hearing projects. In addition, a collection box for recycled eyeglasses will be available at the funeral home during calling hours.